Stocking stretcher



April 3, was. N,-S. REEDER 1,998,820

STOCKING STRETCHER Filed Oct. 7, 1932 A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 23, 1935 UNITED STATES;

STOCKING s'ranronna Nathaniel S. Reeder, New York, NY.

Application October 7,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved apparatus for stretching stockings, and has for one of its objects the provision of a device or form on. which thehose can be placed and stretched, the device being particularly useful in connection with the drying of stockings of wool or other material which tends to shrink when laundered.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device adapted to stretch both the foot and leg of the stocking, and capableo-f use with both short and long stockings.

Inthe drawing wherein I have illustrated an embodiment of my invention:

Fig. l is an elevational view of the same with the parts in position for placing a stocking thereon;

Fig. 2' is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the stocking in stretched condition;

Fig. 3v is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

.Fig- 4 is a section on the line 4@ of Fig. 2;

Fig.5 is a section on the line 55xof Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig... 2;

' r Fig. 7 is a detail of one of the clamps constituting a part of the device; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of the form showing an extension therefor.

Referring to the drawing in detail, I designates a fiat form of wood, fibre or other suitable material, shaped roughly to the form of the leg and foot of a stocking. A section 2 hereinafter termed a foot stretching lever is out out of the leg and foot of the form l-simply by sawing along the lines 3, 4 and 5, the inner edge of the lower part of this section 2 afterwards being cut away as indicated in dotted lines at 6 in Fig. 2.

At about the ankle portion the form I is provided with a pair of straps I, one on each side of. the form, the foot stretching lever 2 being inserted between these two straps and pivotally held in place by a pivot 8. This providesa foot stretching lever pivoted at B the lower end or heel portion of which is adapted to be pivoted toward and away from the form l as shown in full lines in Fig. 1 and in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

1932, Serial No. 636,793 (01. 223-19 the sides of the form I so that it may readily be opened and closed by the fingers.

As will be seen from Fig. 2, when the upper end of the foot stretching lever 2 is moved to its innermost position and latched in place the outer edge 12 of the stretching lever 2 will be flush with the outer edge 13- of the upper part of theleg of the form. It is to be noted that the upper end of the lever 2 where it is engaged by the latch it is cut back slightly to accommodate the latch. V g

The leg of. the form- 5 is provided with a longitudinal slot 14 extending irom about the ankle portion of the leg to a point adjacent the top thereof. This slot is for the accommodation of the slidable clamping mechanism shown in Fig. 4. and. presently to be. described, this mechanism to be attached to the top of the stocking. 9 and. then moved upwardly along the leg portion of the-form l tostretch thestocking leg.

Referring to Figs. 4;, 5 and 6 of the drawing, it will be seen that the clamping mechanism above mentioned. comprises a two piece strap 15, each piece being provided on its irmer face with lugs l6, adapted to extend into the slot l4, the two parts of the strap being held to each other by rivets l1, passing through these lugs. There is sufficient play between the strap 15 andthe form t to permit the strap to slide freely over the latch Ill when'the strap is being movedalong the form in the operation of the device.

I8 designates a bolt having ahead l9 adapted to bear against one iace of the form I., the bolt passing through the slot l4, and through. a lug 20' on the outer face of one section of the strap.- 15. Anut 2| is provided on the projecting end of. the bolt, and by tightening this nut the strap may be. clamped securely in place on the form I to prevent its. movement lengthwise of the slot M. Carried by the lug 20 already referred to and-a similar lug 22 on the-other section of the strap [5 are clamp jaws 23 shown in Fig. 4, one being shown in detail in Fig. 7. The inner face of these jaws may be corrugated or otherwise roughened to provide against slipping of the stocking when the top of the same is clamped between these jaws and strap I5. Y

Each clamp jaw is provided with an upwardly V extendingarm 24 having a squared hole 25 therein for loosely receiving the lugs or bosses 20 and 22. Just above the hole 25 in each jaw arm is another hole 26- for the reception of a 10 21,

headed at one end as shown at 28- and provided at its otherend with a thumb nut 29. This bolt 21 passes through the slot I4 and. intermediate the two jaw arms is provided with a spring tending to separate the jaws and move them away from the strap [5.

The jaw arms at their upper ends are forked or bifurcated, the two sides 3| of these forks being far enough apart to bear against the form I at each side of the slot l4. These forked upper ends of the jaw arms are connected to each other pivotally by a cross bar 32 which passes through the slot l4 and is pivotally connected to each arm. This construction steadies the clamping jaws on the form I to a considerable extent so that when the thumb nut 29 is loosened the spring 30 will force the jaws apart at each side of the form I away from the strap l5 to permit of the ready insertion of the top of the stocking between the jaws and the strap.

In use, the stocking 9, as I have already mentioned is pulled over the foot of the form I with the foot stretching lever 2 in the position of Fig. 1, after which this lever is pushed inwardly at the top to the position shown in Fig. 2 and latched by late IS. This operation moves the lower end of the lever outwardly so as to stretch the foot of the stocking and hold it in this condition. The clamping mechanism of Fig. 4 may then be moved downwardly along the slot 14 simply by loosening the nut 2 I, so as to enable the top of the stocking 9 to be moved upwardly and to be inserted b'etween theclamp jaws 23 and the strap l5. It is preferable to tighten up the hand nut 2| again so as to hold the clamping mechanism against movement in the slot l4 while inserting the stocking top between the jaws 23 and the strap.

;With the stocking top in place the thumb nut 29 is tightened up so that the stocking top will be securely gripped between the jaws 23 and the strap 15. The nut 2| is then again loosened and the entire clamping mechanism with the stocking top gripped therein'is moved toward the outer end or top of the form until the stocking is stretched to the extent desired, whereupon the nut 2| is again tightened to hold the stocking in this stretched condition. 7

From all of the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a device which is simple in construction and in operation and which is adapted for the'stretching of both the foot and the leg of the stocking, and holding the stocking securely '1 in a stretched position. The stocking should be more or less wet or damp when placed on the form and after being stretched and clamped in position, allowed to dry thereon.

It will be appreciated also that my device is particularly useful in connection with the drying of woolen hose in that it insures that the hose after being laundered will be restored to its original size.

While my form is capable of accommodating stockings in sizes varying over a considerable range, in Fig. 8 I have shown a clip designated 35 for application to the toe of the form to lengthen the foot thereof. This clip may be of metal, for example, and to have holes or shallow depressions in one side or leg thereof. 36 designates pins carried by the form, and when the extension clip 35 is slipped over the toe of the form these pins will be engaged by the depressions above mentioned and the clip be held in place. One jaw 31 of the clip is longer than the-other and when the clip is in place overlaps a hole 38 in the form. In removing the clip one may insert the finger through the hole 38 and spring the jaw 31 outwardly sufficiently to disengage the pins 36 and permit the clip to be removed.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the details of construction above described within the purview of my invention,

What I claim is:

1. A stocking stretcher comprising a form for receiving a stocking, the form being contoured to the approximate shape of the stocking, one part of the form being pivoted to provide a lever for stretching the foot of the stocking lengthwise, and a clamp for clamping the stocking top, said clamp being movable along the form and lever to stretch the stocking leg lengthwise.

2. A stocking stretcher comprising in combination a form for receiving a stocking, said form being made in sections pivoted to each other, one section including the heel portion of the form being movable in a direction to stretch the foot of the stocking lengthwise, and a clamp for gripping the stocking top slidable along both sections of the form, and adapted when moved away from the foot portion of the form to stretch the stocking leg lengthwise.

3. A stocking stretcher comprising a form for receiving a stocking, said form being made in sections pivoted to each other to provide a main section and a foot-stretching section, said main section being provided with a slot extending longitudinally thereof below the upper end of the foot-stretching section, a clamp mounted on said form for gripping a stocking top, said clamp being I movable longitudinally of the form for the full length of the slot, and means passing through said slot for locking the clamp to the form with thestocking leg stretched longitudinally.

4. A stocking stretcher comprising in combination a form for receiving a stocking, a strap surrounding the form and movable lengthwise of the leg portion of the form, clamp jaws carried by said strap for clamping a stocking top to said strap, and means for locking said jaws in closed position and for locking said strap in adjusted position. v

5. A stocking stretcher comprising a form for receiving a stocking, said form being contoured to the approximate shape of a stocking, a strap surrounding the leg portion of said form, said strap being movable lengthwise of the form, means for locking the strap in position, said form being provided with a longitudinal slot and the strap-locking means riding in said slot, a clamp jaw on opposite sides of said strap for clamping a stocking top thereto, means passing through said slot for pivotally connecting the clamps to each other, and locking means for the clamp jaws operative both with the strap locked and unlocked.

6. A stocking stretcher comprising a form contoured to the approximate shape of a stocking, said form comprising a foot stretching lever extending upwardly along the leg portion of the form, a loop latch attached to the leg portion of the form for locking the foot stretching lever in operating position, said latch projecting beyond the opposite jaws of the form, a strap carried by the leg portion of the form and slidable longitudinally thereof, said strap being suiiiciently spaced from the opposite faces of the form to enable the same to slide over said loop latch, means for locking said strap to the form, clamp jaws for clamping a stocking top to said strap, said jaws being mounted on said strap, and means for locking said jaws.

7. A stocking stretcher comprising in combination a form contoured to the approximate shape of a stocking, said form being provided with a slot extending longitudinally of the leg portion thereof, a strap surrounding the leg portion of the form and movable longitudinally thereof, means passing through said slot for locking the strap to the form in adjusted position, clamp jaws carried by said strap at each side of the form, means for pivotally connecting the clamp jaws to each other, a spreader spring intermediate said clamp jaws, and means passing through said slot for closing the clamp jaws against the action of said spring and to hold the jaws in clamping position.

8. A stocking stretcher comprising in combination a form contoured to the approximate shape of a stocking, a double-jawed clip adapted to be applied to the toe part of the foot of the form to lengthen the foot, pins carried by the foot of the form, one jaw of the clip engaging said pins to be removably held in position on the form, said form being provided with a hole overlapped by the last mentioned clip jaw to permit said jaw to be sprung outwardly from the opposite side of the form to disengage the said pins.

9. A stocking stretcher comprising a form for receiving a stocking, said form being made in sections pivoted to each other to provide a main section and a foot stretching section, said main section being provided with a slot extending longitudinally thereof, clamping mechanism mounted on said form for gripping a stocking top, said on said form for gripping a stocking top, said clamping mechanism comprising a portion lying in said slot and being movable longitudinally of the form for the full length of said slot and including clamp jaws, means for locking the clamping mechanism to the form, and means for looking said jaws in closed position with the stocking leg stretched longitudinally.

11. A stocking stretcher comprising a sectional form contoured to the approximate shape of a stocking, one section of the form terminating short of the top of the form and being movable with respect to the other with a stocking on the form to elongate the foot of the form to stretch the stocking foot lengthwise, and independent means movable along both sections of the form for stretching the leg of a stocking lengthwise after the application of the stocking to the form.

NATHANIEL S. REEDER. 

